UN allowed to take 'all necessary measures' to protect Libyan civilians

The Libyan opposition has welcomed with jubilation the U.N. Security Council decision to authorize a no-fly zone over Libya.

The resolution gives permission to U.N. members to take "all necessary measures" to protect civilians, including a ban on all flights over Libya. Anti-Gadhafi protesters in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi greeted the news with cheers, celebratory gunfire and fireworks, Voice of America reports.

Ten members of the Security Council voted for the imposition of a no-fly zone in Libya and other security measures, with no members opposing the resolution. Russia, China, Germany, India and Brazil abstained.

The resolution authorized other nations to board ships and planes to enforce an existing arms embargo on Libya, and approved "all necessary measures" to protect Libyan civilians from Col. Gadhafi's security forces, Wall Street Journal says.